Indexing table



June 30, 1931. R. D. EASTON 1,811,382

INDEXING TABLE Filed Dec. 13, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet June 30, 1931. R. D. EASTON 1,311,882

\ INDEXING TABLE Filed Dec. 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I fi & o x J v Q June 30, 1931. R. D. EASTON 1,811,882

INDEXING TABpE Filed Dec. 1.3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE ROBERT D. EASTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO B. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COM- IPANY, F GHICAGG, ILLINOIS, A CORPQRATICN 0F ILLINOIS INDEXING TABLE Application filed December 13, 1928. Serial No. 325,753.

This indexing table, intended primarily for delivering to an operator as needed a series of index-tabs for insertion in a book in a predetermined order, is characterized by the feature that it is power driven with mechanism whereby the operator can stop it at predetermined points so that the tabs to be inserted in the book are presented to the operator in a given order. For this purpose, the machine is provided with a series of pockets, each pocket being adapted to hold 'gummed index tabs, each tab bearing a certain letter, descriptive phrase, etc., and which is to be moistened and inserted at a given point into a book having thumb holes or tion showing the cover of the worm gear reduction partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stop release; and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the rotatable member showing the latter partly broken away to show the pockets in the rotatable member.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a frame 10 and plate 11 which may, if desired, be an ordinary table on which'is mounted a i base 12, the latter carrying a stub axle 13.

A bevel gear 14 is rotatably mounted on the stub axle 13, and carries a friction disc 15, the latter in turn serving as a bearing for a similar friction disc 16 which is carried by a rotatable member 17 Thus it will be seen that the motor 21 when in operation will drive the bevel gear 14 continuously, and this, through the friction discs 15 and 16, will tend to continuously rotate the rotatable member 17. This rotation, however, of the member 17 is intermittently interrupted by a stop 22 which successively engages and releases pins 23, which are loosely placed in T holes 24 which are drilled through the member 17, the lower ends of the ing below the member 17.

pins 23 extendhas an arm 26 to which is connected a rod 27 which extends down beneath the table and terminates in a button 28 which is normally held up by means of a spring 29. The stop 22 is normally in the path 01 the pins 23, but an operator by pressing on the button 28 will draw the rod 27 down thereby rocking the stop 22 in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby moving the stop 22 out of the path of the pins 23. The stop 22,.however, carries an auxiliary stop 22 which is then moved into the path of the pins 23 so that either the stop 22 or the stop 22 is in the path of these pins at all times. As soon as the stop 22 is moved out of the path of the pins 23, the motor acting through the friction discs 15 and 16 moves the rotatablemember 17 until'the next pin 23 engages the stop 22%. lVhen theoperator releases the button 28 this pin then is released by the stop 22, and engages the stop 22, the latter being in regular operatable position, as will later be explained. It the button 28 is operated quickly, however, it will release the stop 22, and will then immediately move back to its normal position, as shown in F ig. 2, so that the next pin 23 will not strike the stop 22 at all but will strike the stop 22. The stop 22 is used merely as a safety measure to prevent the next pin 23 passing the stop 22, should the button 28 be held down an appreciable length of time.

The rotatable member 17 is provided with a series of pockets 30 which are adapted to hold indexing tabs and the like. A top or cover 31 is secured to the top of the stub axle 13 by means of a set screw 32. This top has an opening 33, as shown in Fig. 4, so placed with respect tothe pockets 30 that one of these pockets will normally be stopped beneath this opening so that the operator may and withdraw one of the previously gummed index tabs, sliding said tab up along the inthen reach into the pocket with one finger sertion of the tab at its proper position in a book, not shown.

If desired, the top 81 may be dispensed with entirely, the operator then. depending upon the fact that the pockets from which tabs are to be withdrawn are always stopped at the same place. This may be directly in front of the operator or a little to one side as preferred.

It will be observed that not all of the holes 24 are filled with pins 23, the reason for this being that more pockets are provided in the member 17 than will generally be used. In that case a pin 23 is placed in one of the holes 2% so as to stop the member 17 with the filled pockets only in front of the opening 33. here a blank hole 24 appears, the rotata'ble member 17 rotates until stopped by the next pin 23.

Thus it will be seen that a very simple and efficient means is provided for presenting to the operator a series of gummed indexing tabs in a predetermined order so that no time is lost in looking for thetabs, these tabs being presented in the proper order for insertion in the book to be indexed.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modificationsf Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An indexing device comprising a rotatable member having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, continuously operating friction means tending to rotate said member, and control means including a series of removable stops carried by said movable member for stepping said member at predetermined points.

2. An indexing device comprising a rotatable member having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, continuously operating friction means tending to rotate said member, a series of stops carried by said rotatable member, a detent normally lying in the path of said stops, and spring-returned means operable by the operator for withdrawing said detent from said path to permit said member to rotate.

3. An indexing device comprising a rotatable member having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, means tending to rotate said member, a series of stops carried by said rotatable member, a detent normally lying in the path of said stops, spring-returned means operable by the operator for withdrawing said detent from said path to permit said member to rotate, and means associated with said detent to prevent the next stop'in the series passing the detent until it is again Withdrawn.

4:. An indexing device comprising a rotatable member having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, means tending to rotate said members, aseries of stops carried by said rotatable member, a detent normally lying in the path of said stops and movable about an axis out of the path of said stops, foot-controlled means for moving said detent, and a. second detent offset from the first and lying in ad vance thereof and carried thereby.

5. An indexing device comprising a 1'0- tatable member having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, means tending to rotate said member, a series of stops carried by said rotatable member, a detent normally lying in the path of said stops and movable about an axis out of the path of said stops, foot-controlled means for moving said detent, and a second detent offset from the first a space equal to the depth of a stop and lying in advance thereof and carried thereby.

6. An indexing table comprising a substantially flat stationary top having an opening therein, a member rotatable beneath said top and having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, means tending to rotate said member beneath said top, and control means for stopping said member at predetermined points beneath said top so as to expose said pockets in a predetermined order.

7. An indexing table comprising a stationary top having an opening therein, a member rotatable beneath said top and having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, means tending to rotate said member, and control means including a series of removable pins carried by said movable member for stopping said member at predetermined points beneath said top so as to expose said pockets in a predetermined order.

8. An indexing table comprising a stationary top having an opening therein, a member rotatable beneath said top and having a series of pockets each adapted to hold indexing tabs of a given kind, means tending to rotate said member, and control means in cluding a series of removable pin-s carried by said movable member for stopping said member at predetermined points beneath said top so as to expose said pockets in a predetermined order, said top serving to prevent the removal of said pins.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this th day of December, 1928.

ROBERT D. EAST'ON. 

